Look Up '09: The Brothers

Hi!

I'm Larry and this is my brother Darryl and my other brother Darryl.

For those of you too young to remember the Bob Newhart characters Larry, Darryl and Darryl, watch the following video clip, but fast forward to around 2:55 to see the brothers.

Look Up '09: What Do You Need to be Happy?

The one thing Jesus needed to be happy was a close relationship with God. Jesus found the sole source of life in his father. The delight of his life was to delight his father.
It was genuinely what made him happy.
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(everything I'm saying in this post comes from talks given by Greg Boone, Executive Director, Look Up Lodge,)

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What is the goal of the disciples of Jesus Christ? To be like Jesus. But we don't grasp the reality of that. While we can't fully attain this until Heaven, the goal is to get as close as possible. It is not religious activities, it is not something external. The people Jesus most rebuked were the devout people. He called them "white washed tombs" and "vipers."
Jesus doesn't speak this negatively about anyone else.

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"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
- Romans 12:2

The word "transformed" is translated from "metamorphia." It is not overly dramatic for God to use the word metamorphosis. Metamorphosis refers to an inside change that results in an outside change. The outside change does not precede the inside change.
What we genuinely need from Jesus is the capacity to love people. Loving people is the test of where you are in the metamorphosis process. Loving people is not the end goal, it is just a test of where you are in the process of transformation. The end goal is the close relationship with God as Jesus had, where God genuinely is our ultimate desire in life.

God wants to give us this capacity to love people unselfishly. Almost every relationship we have in life is based on selfishness. What God wants to do is to change that. How in the world can we do that? There's only one way and it's the same way Jesus did it.

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By finding our sole source of life and happiness in God alone.

"Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."
- John 17:3

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If you want to get to know what's really important to someone, you spend time together, talk, be together. What they talk about is what they care about. And it's like that with God - the things He talks about most in the Bible are the things He cares about most. How do you get to know Him? Spend time with Him, learn who He is and what He cares about.
You probably aren't living the Christian life right if you think it's
1) complicated, or 2) easy.

What is the test of where you are in the metamorphosis process -- this process of getting closer to God, the process of finding Him as your main source of happiness?
It's the quality of your relationship with other human beings.
How you treat people. How you love people.

It's a lot easier to perform religious acts .
It's a lot harder to genuinely love people totally unselfishly.

"..that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ.."
Not "that they might be a good missionary" or "that they might be a good parent" or "that they might have a good church."
Just: "That they may know you, the only true God & Jesus Christ."

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"My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water."

- Jeremiah 2:13

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Two sins? Really, just two sins? Amazing how important this is. Everything has its roots back in this.

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When we focus on God, sin begins to get squeezed out of our lives.
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If you're going to become this thing that God wants you to be, you are going to struggle in the metamorphosis process. Caterpillar to pupa to butterfly requires a serious struggle. Without the struggle, it just doesn't happen. This puts a different spin on pain and suffering, on teenage rebellion, marriage difficulties, and cancer and sickness, doesn't it?
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When you understand who God is and why He does what He does, you'll stop asking "Why?"
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The Answer: Trying to make you more like Jesus.
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Look Up Lodge '09: Goin' To The Chapel

Two things one learns about Look Up Lodge, rather quickly, is 1) Routine is comfortable and safe and 2) Routine is never routine, it can always be altered.

300? 500? 700? people march up the hill two times a day for chapel. Routine: each group gathers in pretty much the same spot to wait for the chapel doors to open. Routine: each group files into the chapel according to group color. Altered Routine: do something crazy and different each time.

Here's how Ethan decided to enter the pew one day:

Before the serious chapel begins, Look Up offers "Funapalooza." These are silly songs designed to get everyone excited and burn off a little energy.

"It's gonna be a boys day, boys day, a heavy metal toys day...."

"It's gonna be a girls day, girls day, pink and purple pearls day..."

Aww! It's Jamal!!

"Marji, do your thing!"

"I can't"

"Why not??"

"I just can't!!...."

Awww! It's Laura!

We are so proud of our FBC Youth Alumni who are now working at Look Up Lodge. It was a blessing to see them up there working after having taken them up as campers for so many years. God is good.

We're Baaaack!!

We're back from Look Up Lodge and will have some posts up as soon as we get back into the swing of things.

Winter Jam '09

Oh yes, we were bound for Winter Jam '09.

Click here for Winter Jam's Facebook page.

So we arrived at the Colonial Life building and joined Tina & friends, who had held an awesome spot in line for us, right up front at the doors. We stood there for a half hour or so until they began admittance to the concert.

Tom S. had scoped the scene and knew exactly what seats we should try to get, so he was designated Line Leader. And as you can see here in this MOB, it was a good thing we had a line leader so nobody got lost. As you can also see, 1) nobody is following our line leader and 2) our line leader is zealous about his job.

We found the seats and they were definitely great seats.

The crew is happy.

Happy pappy.


As if things couldn't get any better. . .

Jimmy Steen made an appearance!

Then the music began.

Stephanie Smith, followed by Pure NRG warmed us up.

Followed by Francesca Battistelli, Hawk Nelson & NewSong.

Tony Nolan gave gave an excellent presentation of the gospel.

THEN. . . my favorite . . .

Brandon Heath.
The youth group bought me a Brandon Heath T-shirt to thank me for driving them up, thanks guys!!

Brandon Heath was followed by the last act of the night --

Toby Mac.

Toby Mac was awesome, as usual.

He is "a creative force, an artistic maverick and a prophetic voice for racial reconciliation, social justice and a fierce devotion to faith & family." I can't say it any better than this quote from his website.

The artists & administrators involved in Winter Jam give selflessly & tirelessly to reach our youth for Christ. The admittance fee is low enough for kids to afford and is far below what these artists could charge for their performances. They performed 35 times in 2 months this year. That's a lot of travel and very little sleep & "a handful of dreams and heart full of God."

Raymond Middleswart in The State

Great article in the State paper about Ray, his wrestling and his priorities. Click here to read all about it.

Final Ski Trip '09 Post

One more thing about the ski trip.

Ms. Christie's schedule

WORE US OUT!